Forever Geeky Names
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About this list
Some baby names seem irredeemably geeky — though we've learned in the world of baby naming, to paraphrase Heidi Klum, one day you're out, and the next day you may be very very in. While all of these nerdy names sit outside the realm of fashion, some have their geekiness enhanced by a connection to a particularly dorky character from pop culture. Among them, Elmer, Velma, Cletus, Barney, Dwight, Kermit, Dilbert, and Waldo. You can give one of these names to your child… if you dare. Will they be lost to time or eventually make a comeback? Some are moving from geek to chic already, but others are forever geeky.
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The names
Hyman
Anglicized variation of Chaim
"life"
Hyman was commonly used by first-generation Jewish immigrants to Anglicize Chaim, but similarities to terms like heinie and hymen have taken it out of the realm of modern possibility. The original…
Enoch
Hebrew
"dedicated"
A major figure in the Old Testament, Enoch was the son of Jared, the father of Methuselah, and the great-grandfather of Noah whose Book of Enoch provides a focal point for ancient Jewish mysticism.…
Hedwig
German
"war"
An ancient German saint's name – and most famously the name of Harry Potter's snowy owl – but the combination of "head" plus "wig" feels a little too literal in English.
Gaylord
French
"brisk, high-spirited"
Best left on the old southern plantation, sipping his mint julep.
Wendell
German, English
"wanderer; to travel, to proceed"
This name has hardly been used since Wendell Willkie ran for president in 1940, and it may not quite be ready for revival yet. Still, clunky grandpa names like Lionel, Douglas, Benedict, Carl, and…
Delbert
English
"day-bright"
Problematic, even if not for Dilbert.
Elfreda
English
"elf power"
Form of Elfrida
Virgil
Latin
"staff bearer"
The name of the greatest Roman poet and an early Irish saint who believed the earth was round, Virgil is heard most notably today as the name of designer Virgil Abloh of Off-White. The first century…
Mervin
Welsh
"sea hill"
A blend of Mervyn and Marvin that is every bit as dated as either of the originals. That -erv sound is difficult no matter what. Mervin is still used today among Amish families.
Waldo
German, pet form of names such as Waldemar
"to rule"
Its jaunty o-ending makes this name more appealing than most of its Germanic brothers, and we hope we're beyond the constant response to his name being "Where's Waldo?" The weighty reputation of…
Doris
Greek
"gift of the ocean"
Doris had long been on our so-far-out-it-will-always-be-out-for-babies list, and seemed to be written there in indelible ink. But there are signs of a sea change, that Doris could profit from the…
Seymour
English
"marshy land near the sea"
Out playing shuffleboard at his condo and not expected back for several generations -- unless it morphs into a girls' name, a la Sydney.
Lugenia
Lugenia is a feminine name that may have evolved as a variant of Eugenia, which derives from the Greek word 'eugenes' meaning 'well-born' or 'noble.' The substitution of 'L' for 'E' represents a…
Dwight
German and Dutch
"white or blond"
This presidential name is in style limbo today - or, some might say, in the the sweet spot of familiar but little-used.
Hester
Medieval variation of Esther, Persian
"star"
The disgraced heroine of The Scarlet Letter 's name, after long neglect, just might have a chance at revival, following in the wake of sister-name Esther. We've characterized her elsewhere as an…
Ferd
Ferd is a short form of Ferdinand, a Germanic name combining 'fardi' meaning journey or travel, and 'nanth' meaning daring or brave. The name suggests a sense of adventure and courage. Ferd gained…
Eunice
Greek
"good victory"
Eunice is a New Testament name of the mother of Timothy, long associated with one of the Kennedy sisters, the founder of the Special Olympics. As high as Number 106 in the early 1900s, it lasted on…
Sherman
English occupational name
"shearer of woolen cloth"
Not quite as over-the-hill as Herman, but not far behind either.
Mortimer
English
"dead sea"
Other kids might see a teasible connection to mortician or mortuary. Mortimer is an English family name used a few generations ago as an Anglicization of Moses; it was Walt Disney's original choice…
Golda
English, Yiddish
"gold"
A name with an obvious meaning, for a long time associated with Golda Meir, the fourth Prime Minister of Israel. Nickname Goldie seems to be catching on in the celebrity community.